Indicator system of urban environmental quality and well-being for the municipality of Bombinhas (Santa Catarina): an application of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

Abstract

The municipality of Bombinhas (Santa Catarina) has an economy strongly driven by sun-and-sea tourism, which has intensified urban development, particularly through civil construction, affecting environmental quality and residents’ well-being. This study proposes an Urban Environmental Quality and Well-Being Indicator System for Bombinhas, aligned with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The methodology followed four stages: (i) systematic local data collection; (ii) adaptation of national indicators to the municipal scale; (iii) validation with local stakeholders; and (iv) final validation of the indicator system. From 134 locally adapted indicators, 49 were selected to compose the final system. Results show that tourism, while economically central, generates seasonal demand peaks that strain transport, sanitation, water supply, and health services, negatively impacting quality of life. The study highlights the need to integrate indicators into public policy to support efficient resource management, infrastructure expansion, and urban resilience, promoting safer and more sustainable urban development.